By Craig Wentz

Town Crier Correspondent

The St. Francis High football team endured its share of highs and lows in 2001.

With a youthful roster, demanding schedule and key injuries, the Lancers put their topsy-turvy year to an end last Friday night in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs.

Eighth-seeded St. Francis lost 35-7 at top-seeded Los Gatos to conclude its second straight losing season.

This marked the second time the Lancers’ (4-7)have lost to the Wildcats (11-0) this season.

The setback dropped St. Francis’ all-time CCS record to 63-13, while Los Gatos improved its all-time postseason mark to 32-14. The two schools have split their four postseason matchups at 2-2 .

After opening the season with a 1-4 non-league record against some of the best teams in Northern California, the Lancers gained momentum in the middle of the year. They raised their record to 4-4 with three consecutive league wins and a share of the West Catholic Athletic League lead.

Then things got ugly.

With injuries to key personnel, including starting quarterback Mark Hoff and talented receiver Joey Fernandez, St. Francis lost its final three games by the combined score of 129-27 and a quick exit from the postseason.

After years of dominating success in Division I playoff play, the Lancers had little chance in their first Division III appearance since 1993.

Los Gatos took advantage of numerous St. Francis miscues in the first half, leaping out to a commanding 28-0 halftime lead.

“We couldn’t stop them in the first half and we gave them great field position,” St. Francis coach Mike Mitchell said.

The Lancers lost a pair of fumbles in the first half as Los Gatos broke the Lancers’ spirit with two touchdowns in the final 1:25 of the second quarter.

A couple of bright notes for St. Francis: it kept Los Gatos’ high-powered offense in check in the second half and the performance of sophomore running back William Taufoou. Taufoou gained 110 yards rushing on 16 carries and tallied St. Francis’ lone touchdown with a 1-yard run in the third quarter.

On a roster of 56 players, the Lancers had just 20 seniors.

With a plethora of returning personnel that has been tested against some of the best teams in the area, the Lancers hope for better fortunes in 2002 and a return trip to the playoffs.